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Overview
Worms: Galactic Tactics is a turn-based tactical roguelike developed by Absolutely Games and published by Team17. The game transplants the beloved Worms formula into fully destructible 3D arenas, replacing the classic multiplayer-focused structure with a gauntlet-style single-player campaign built around run-based progression. The goal is to fight through increasingly dangerous stages, collect upgrades, and eventually topple the gauntlet's ruling villain, Emperor Flugg.
Each run through the Galactic Gauntlet presents a fresh sequence of battles across hand-crafted arenas, from the sugary absurdity of Candyland to the imposing halls of the Emperor's palace. The roguelike loop kicks in between fights: earn Juice from completed battles, cash it in to upgrade your worms between runs, and choose weapon mods that stack into increasingly ridiculous loadouts. Death is a setback, not a dead end.
Gameplay and mechanics
The core turn-based combat will feel familiar to Worms veterans, but Galactic Tactics adds meaningful layers on top of the classic formula. Key mechanics include:
- Skill minigames for landing hits and critical shots
- High-ground positioning that boosts aim accuracy
- A post-battle weapon mod selection system
- Item crates that expand your arsenal mid-run
- Specialist enemy classes and champion boss encounters
Weapons no longer fire on pure luck. Each shot involves a timing-based minigame, meaning positioning and execution both matter. Securing the high ground boosts your accuracy, which creates real tactical decisions around movement before committing to an attack. The Grapple can stun enemies, the Fire Punch drains health over time, and stacking mods on a Bazooka can turn a standard explosive into something far more destructive.
What new weapons does Galactic Tactics introduce?
Alongside returning classics like the Bazooka and Holy Hand Grenade, the game introduces weapons built specifically for its roguelike structure. The Beambow fires energy projectiles across destructible terrain. The Meteor Sheep sends the franchise's most iconic weapon on a fiery descent from orbit. The Die-napple and the Cosmic Donkey round out a roster of new additions that lean hard into absurdity, which has always been part of what makes Worms work.
The mod system ties directly into these weapons. After each battle, you choose from a set of upgrade options that alter how your weapons behave. Combining mods across multiple weapons creates loadouts that can swing from tactically sound to completely chaotic, depending on how the run is going.
Multiplayer and replayability
Outside the gauntlet, Galactic Tactics supports 1v1 multiplayer both locally and online, letting players test their modded squads against human opponents. The competitive side of the game draws on the same destructible arenas and weapon roster as the campaign, so skills built during solo runs carry over.
Replayability comes from the roguelike structure itself. No two gauntlet runs play out identically, since mod selections, item crate contents, and enemy configurations shift between attempts. The squad customization layer adds another dimension: dozens of hats, voicebanks, and gravestones let you build a crew that looks and sounds exactly as ridiculous as you want. Dressing your squad as British Bobbies or tin-foil-hat conspiracy theorists does nothing for your win rate, but that has never stopped anyone in a Worms game before.